Publication detail

Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Circular Agriculture: A Case Study in Fuqing, China

Fan, W. Zhang, P. Xu, Z. Wei, H. Lu, N. Wang, X. Weng, B. Chen, Z. Wu, F. Dong, X.

Original Title

Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Circular Agriculture: A Case Study in Fuqing, China

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

The process for reasonably evaluating the potential impacts of circular agriculture on the environment has become a key issue in the sustainable development of circular agriculture. Based on this consideration, by using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and focusing on the circular agriculture industry company of Xingyuan, Fuqing, this paper evaluates the potential impacts of the pig farming industry-dragon fruit planting-forage planting-fishery industry-mushroom planting-biogas generating-organic fertilizer production circular agriculture model compared to a main agriculture industrial model, the pig farming industry, from environmental and environmental-economic perspectives. Moreover, this paper determines key elements that restrict the development of circular agriculture through a sensitivity analysis. The results show that if we simply consider the potential environmental impacts, circular agriculture does not produce better results than those of the main agricultural production model. In addition, if we consider reducing the potential environmental impact as well as improving the economic benefits from the perspective of a "reduction ring", we should consider removing mushroom planting and organic fertilizer from the circular agriculture framework. Moreover, if we want to reduce the potential environmental impact without changing the current recycling model, we should focus on the premix components, especially the three main components of corn, soybean meal, and whey protein concentrate.

Keywords

Circular agriculture; Environmental assessment; LCA analysis; Sensitivity analysis; Sustainability; agricultural modeling; agricultural production; agriculture; environmental impact assessment; life cycle analysis; recycling; sensitivity analysis; sustainable development; China; Basidiomycota; Glycine max; Suidae; Zea mays

Authors

Fan, W.; Zhang, P.; Xu, Z.; Wei, H.; Lu, N.; Wang, X.; Weng, B.; Chen, Z.; Wu, F.; Dong, X.

Released

31. 5. 2018

Publisher

MDPI AG

ISBN

2071-1050

Periodical

Sustainability

Year of study

10

Number

6

State

Swiss Confederation

Pages from

1810

Pages to

1818

Pages count

8

BibTex

@article{BUT151424,
  author="Fan, W. and Zhang, P. and Xu, Z. and Wei, H. and Lu, N. and Wang, X. and Weng, B. and Chen, Z. and Wu, F. and Dong, X.",
  title="Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Circular Agriculture: A Case Study in Fuqing, China",
  journal="Sustainability",
  year="2018",
  volume="10",
  number="6",
  pages="1810--1818",
  doi="10.3390/su10061810",
  issn="2071-1050"
}